Sheriff: Serial Aptos, Live Oak school burglar arrested

A man was arrested on Friday who investigators believe burglarized and vandalized three elementary schools in Aptos, Corralitos and Live Oak last month.

Jaime Mendoza, 31, of Watsonville, was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on two counts of felony burglary Friday morning, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Deputy April Skalland said.

Mar Vista Elementary School, Live Oak Elementary School, and Bradley Elementary School were all broken into on Nov. 26.

Mar Vista elementary in Aptos sustained the worst damage. Someone shattered a window and attempted to swipe 12 computers from the school's library, Skalland said. The thief failed at stealing more than one computer because the computers were locked down. The thief became frustrated and trashed Mar Vista's library.

"Considerable damage occurred during the attempt to steal the computers," Skalland said.

At Live Oak elementary, someone stole a computer and printer from a staff lounge, Skalland said. Bradley elementary in Corralitos was also broken into at 2:40 a.m., but nothing was stolen.

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